Global Technology Report

NetApp dips off data storage deal

Data storage deal NetApp closes a big acquisition ahead of the Christmas holiday, scooping up flash storage company SolidFire. NetApp. Shares of the data storage company are plunging in early trading after the company announced it will acquire SolidFire for $870 million in cash. SolidFire specializes in making all-flash storage systems. “This acquisition will benefit current and future customers looking to gain the benefits of webscale cloud providers for their own data centers,” said NetApp CEO George Kurian in a statement.

Activision. Shares of the video game publisher are up early, although it’s not clear what’s contributing to the pre-market bump. Activision shares have enjoyed a steady climb during the year, nearly doubling in value since last December.

Microsoft. The company announced it will buy communications app Talko, with plans to incorporate it into its Skype service. The app creates multi-person conversations including photos, videos and text.

Apple. CEO Tim Cook defended the tech giant’s use of encryption on mobile devices, saying including a “back door” for law enforcement access opens a path for any one to break into a smartphone or tablet. Cook also dismisses idea users must sacrifice privacy for more security.

Google. The tech giant is reportedly working with Ford to collaborate on self-driving cars, with an announcement expected during next month’s International Consumer Electronics Show.